Disclaimer: I do not own kung fu panda nor anything related to it. I write this for fun and with no intent to profit from it. Having said that... just something i wrote because i wanted to try my hand at a fan fic. Enjoy. More later. Please read and review if ya like.

CHAPTER ONE

In the still night air in the valley of peace, just before dawn, a wind had kicked up. It was a brisk wind, like the kind that moves through warm bodies, rather than around them. As it traveled east past the bare rice fields, it tugged roughly at every leaf and blade of grass in its path, and left in its wake the first telltale flecks of frost. Winter was nearing. With the wind, dark, fat and lumpy clouds drew in. Being carried along quickly and so closely packed together would make one almost believe that they too were cold, and were coming together to warm themselves.

As the minutes went on, the wind grew stronger and in the predawn glow it lit the bruised sky with an eerie fire. Grey and black blobs hung on a backdrop of gold and amber with tinges maroon and rose-petal pink. Hanging just below these clouds sat the village of prosperity. The simple cobblestone streets and sandstone buildings with red clay shingles seemed so frail beneath the menacing sky above. Along its streets, loose shutters banged loudly against the walls that held their frames as the wind ripped past them.

A wind had kicked up, serving as winter's herald, a wind that brought a chill, an icy frost and dark clouds. Yet winters arrival was not all the wind had brought with it...

It was well known fact that Mr. Ping had his routines. Tea at sunrise, make breakfast, start the laundry and all before the sun can climb into full view. His life was planned. Sure.. there was the seemingly stressful task of planning every aspect of his day as he could.. but it was worth it to be able to take care of his shop ...and his son, his little panda. It had been thirty years, or so, since Ping had found little Po in a radish basket that had been delivered to his noodle shop. Even though his was still a goose of relatively young years, he had no other family and so, with love for this baby panda, Mr. Ping made a best decision of his life; to raise Po as his own son.

Sitting in the corner prep table of his kitchen with a cup of tea sat Mr. Ping was dozing quietly, his tea untouched. Moments later, a pounding echoed throughout the two story building that served as both home and noodle shop. Snapping out of the doze with a shout, Mr. Ping stood nervously and spoke harshly through the heavy wooden door to the would-be visitor.

"I'm closed right now," he said. "Come back later!"

A few moments passed in silence and satisfied, Ping sat back down. His feathers trembling as his reached for his teacup, his shook his head and tried to clear it of his brief fear. It was a short reprieve from fear. Another set of banging on the door brought Ping to his feet and this time he drew a ladle off the wall and called out firmly.

"Whoever you are... You better leave!" Ping began to back even further from the door. "I'm armed with a la.." Glancing at his "weapon" he set it down on a nearby counter and was reaching for a knife mounted on the wall when..

CRACK!

The door came free of its iron frame and slammed down hard on the floor in the middle of the kitchen. Standing in the doorway was a snow leopard, tall and menacing, and clothed simply in black cotton pants and reed and bamboo sandals. His face was rough and scarred, mostly around his eyes which were large and golden in hue. He stood over the tiny goose after crossing the room in the blink of an eye. His muscle and sinew bulging in his neck as he spoke like a beast barely containing his fury.

"You are Ping?" He seethed questioningly, "father" of the dragon warrior?"

"Yeah?" replied Mr. Ping in an unsteady voice. "What of it?"

The snow leopard crossed back to the doorway and laughed briefly, a dark laugh. "You shall see, fool." He waved his paw out the doorway and two more snow leopards of equal size and dress appeared before the first intruder. "Take him.."

A brisk wind had kicked up in the valley of peace... And it brought with it more than winter...